Georgia’s Teacher of the Year Program (GTOTY) annually spotlights the teaching profession and recognizes outstanding public school teachers at the local and state levels. The program is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Education. It is a prestigious awards program to focus attention on excellence in teaching. The first Georgia Teacher of the Year was selected in 1971.
 
Qualifications
The candidate for Teacher of the Year should be:

• A certified classroom teacher (clear and renewable certificate) in public prekindergarten through grade 12, including special education, physical education, art, music, media specialists and ROTC teachers. (Counselors are not eligible.)
• An exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled teacher who is planning to continue in active teaching status.
• A teacher who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn.
• A teacher who has the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues.
• A teacher who plays an active and useful role in the community as well as in the school.
• A teacher who is poised and articulate and possesses the energy to withstand a taxing schedule.

 
Each school selected the Teacher of the Year which were submitted and reviewed by a panel for the selection of the System Teacher of the Year. The System Teacher of the Year will be submitted to the Georgia Teacher of the Year program.
2018 Teacher of the Year for Appling County School District
(Elected to begin serving July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)
Appling County Primary School – Melissa Howard
Appling County Elementary School – Selena Head
Altamaha Elementary School – Jennifer Simmons
Fourth District Elementary School – Ella Kimberly Branch                         
Appling County Middle School – Angela Morris
Appling County High School – Cathy Williams   
Angela Morris – Appling County School System
2018 Teacher of the Year Angela Morris was born and raised in Appling County and graduated from Appling County High School in 1980. The following year she worked as a paraprofessional at Appling County High School, which confirmed her desire to teach. Mrs. Morris earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University in 1983, her Master’s Degree in 1986, and her Education Specialist Degree in 1987. She began her teaching career in 1983 at Lanier Elementary in Pembroke, Georgia, but returned home to teach at Appling County Elementary the following year. Mrs. Morris taught fifth grade at Appling County Elementary for seventeen years, where she was named Appling County Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1994. For the past seventeen years she has taught life science on Team 7-3 at Appling County Middle School. Currently, Mrs. Morris serves as ACMS’ science department chair, 7th Grade Beta Club sponsor, and GATE Chairperson. Mrs. Morris states she was chosen by Appling County Middle School and the District to serve as the TOTY in 2007 and is humbled to once again receive this honor from her fellow colleagues. She has worked to support the school district through her service as treasurer for the local Georgia Association of Educators for the past eighteen years. Mrs. Morris is a member of Mount Vernon Baptist Church where she teaches the Senior Adults Sunday school class and sings in the choir.
She is married to Joffre Morris and they have two daughters, son-in-laws, and three grandchildren. Breanna and her husband, Chat Carter have a three year old son, Morris and a twenty month old daughter, Avery. Allie and her husband, Eddie Pearson have one eight month old daughter named Ellie Rose. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Earl McDaniel and her in laws are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Morris.
When asked what she felt was her greatest contribution, she stated it would be the continuous blessings of playing some small part in loving, teaching, encouraging, and nurturing present and future leaders, teachers, problem solvers, role models, innovators, and others. She went on to say that she is so thankful God chose this role for her and she plans to use the opportunities He gives to the best of her ability for His glory.
Angela is honored to represent Appling County Middle School and Appling County School System as the 2018 Teacher of the Year. She is blessed to work alongside some of the greatest teachers in the nation right here in Appling County. She feels fortunate to be a part of the Appling County School System where “united we can” and do change the world one child at a time.